A Justified Murder (Medlar Mystery 2)

They looked around the church. There were at least two hundred people there. The walls were ringed, the pews packed. Everyone was staring and listening. But there were no tears being shed.

Chet was the first to turn back to the front. Another woman was at the podium. She told how kind Janet had been to her after an accidental bad hair dye job in her salon.

Last came the only man. “Drugstore,” Kate whispered.

It was Eric Yates, the pharmacist. “I made a fool of myself but Janet forgave me” was all he said. His face was red with embarrassment.

After he sat down, two women and a man got up from the front pew and sang “Tears in Heaven.”

After they finished, the pastor led the congregation in prayer. When the service was over, the people began to leave. What little they spoke was done in whispers.

Outside, all four of them went to Jack’s truck and leaned against the long bed. They were watching the people file out.

“I don’t know about you guys,” Jack said, “but I feel like I’ve just come out of a two-hour therapy session.”

“The question,” Sara said, “is whether we were the patient or the doctor.”

Chet gave a snort of laughter at that, then stepped forward and looked at them. “I don’t mean to intrude, but I’d really like to talk to you three. Flynn says you know a lot about this case.”

“We told him everything we know.” Jack sounded hostile.

“There were a few things we left out,” Sara said. “Were you the one who told Everett about the cross sewn into the baby bootie?”

“Yes.” He nodded toward a big green SUV. “That’s mine. I brought some boxes of info about the case with me. I thought I’d get a hotel somewhere, unload them, and you could look at what I have.”

Since his eyes never left Sara’s as he said this, they weren’t sure if his “you” was singular or plural.

“We can put them in my dining room.” Sara walked with him to his car.

“Think we should check into a hotel?” Jack muttered.

“I’d tell you to be nice but I feel the same way,” Kate replied.

When they saw Sara get into Chet’s SUV, Jack opened the driver-side door of his truck.

Kate got in and scooted across. “My suggestion is that we make a run to Chipotle and pick up a lunch for four. Otherwise, you and I will probably be relegated to being houseboys.”

Jack and Kate looked at each other and smiled. It felt good to be together on this.

It took over an hour to go to the restaurant on University, then get back to Lachlan. As they neared the house, Jack said, “Maybe we should go see a movie. Give them time alone.”

“Good idea,” Kate said. “However... I am a tiny bit curious as to what files he has on the White Lily Kidnapping. Do you think Aunt Sara will tell him about hearing Tayla on the phone, then about...? You know?”

“Your father and Charlene?”

Kate nodded.

“Your dad was Sara’s brother. I don’t think she’s going to tell his ugly secret to a stranger.”

“I hope not.”

“I wonder—since he’s former police—if he knows anything more about Janet’s personal life. Where she came from, her family, that sort of thing.”

“How long ago was it that he talked to Everett?”

Jack nodded. “And what else did he tell that blabbermouth that Gage didn’t tell us? He certainly sugarcoated their stories at the memorial.”

“Oh yeah. When the teens told us, they were...”